PDP to publicise delegates list for primaries

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has said that it would soon make public the names of the 2,677 delegates to participate in its party primaries to the aspirants vying for different public offices.

Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 220 aspirants in Kaduna state are seeking the PDP’s ticket to run for the governorship and 53 various offices in the 2019 general polls.

A statement on Thursday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Abraham Catoh, said that the list of delegates would be released ahead of the primaries scheduled for Sept. 30.

Catoh said that the decision was part of a resolution adopted at a meeting of the party’s State Executive and all aspirants on Sept. 26.

The statement said it was part of efforts to ensure transparency, fairness and equal level playing ground for all the aspirants.

“The meeting of State Executive Committee (SEC) of the People’s Democratic Party and members of the Party aspiring for State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship positions held on the 26th September, 2018, for a transparent, free and fair party primaries, the following resolutions were reached:

“Authentic delegates list will be given to all aspirants, at their level of contest before the election day; which will be verified by the aspirants on the day of the primaries before the commencement of the primaries.

“The aspirants will sign the back of the ballot papers, each, before the commencement of the exercise

“The party shall provide a venue and logistics for the primaries as agreed by the party and the aspirants, proper security arrangements will be provided by the party at the election venue.

“A standby generator (source of power) will be provided at the election venue by the party to avoid power outage.

“Each of the aspirants will give name of one person to be appointed as a member of the electoral committee, for the verification of the delegates list before the commencement of the primaries.

“All delegates shall cast their votes by themselves or announce to an official loudly to write the name of the preferred aspirant on the ballot for him/her, which will be confirmed by the agent of the aspirant mentioned.

“You may wish to bring more suggestions to the party leadership, as members of our great party, on how best to have a very transparent, free and fair party primaries,” the statement read in part.

Meanwhile, a list of aspirants for the primaries obtained by NAN showed that 10 persons are in the race for the party’s governorship ticket.

According to the party’s list, 12 persons are vying for the three Senate seats, while 52 others are in the race for the 16 House of Representatives seats.

The list also indicated that no fewer than146 politicians are seeking the PDP’s tickets to run for the 34 State House of Assembly seats.